gleemonex

i've been reading the halifax regional police website's blotter, and it's got me wondering what areas of halifax one should avoid (either day or night)?

for instance, i'll be staying at the westin nova scotian and the waverley inn soon. are the areas around these hotels sketchy at night? what about the waterfront? safe at night?

Daniel_Williams

Hi Gleemonex

I went to Halifax in 2003 and I found I felt very comfortable walking around the downtown of the city and waterfront area day and night. (Waverly Inn is within easy walking distance of the sites in the historic center, incidentally, great area... I don't know about Westin Nova Scotian.) For a city its size, I found Halifax to have an incredibly active nightlife and vibrant music scene. I've been told that some areas north of the MacDonald Bridge are a bit sketchy and parts of Dartmouth in the outskirts... but way off anywhere you'd be likely to go.

Halifax is a great city; IMO one of North America's most enjoyable. Quit worrying and get excited! Have a great trip!

DAN

moodie

Halifax and Dartmouth are both very safe and you'll find them extremely friendly. I lived in Dartmouth for seven years. There are some rough areas but they are pretty obvious. And your hotels are in good locations. Be sure to poke around the Historic Properties and say hi to Michel at the bookstore, and enjoy a picnic lunch in the Public Gardens if you're there when the flowers are blooming. The ferry service from the Properties to Dartmouth is a nice (and cheap) way to see the area from the water, and there's a nice inexpensive restaurant above the terminal on the Dartmouth side with beautiful views of Halifax.

gleemonex

thanks for the reassurement folks. i appreciate it.

however there has been a change of plans. i'll be staying at the holiday inn select halifax-centre at robie & quinpool, instead of the waverley inn.

i've read that this area is "edgy", is it that bad?

Daniel_Williams

Robie & Quinpool. Well, to give you an idea, when I went I stayed at a guesthouse at Oxford & Quinpool. Robie is a good 10 minutes by foot closer-in to the harbourfront than Oxford. My friend & I, in order to walk to the waterfront must have passed right by the Holiday Inn; we walked it at day & night. You're maybe a 10-minute walk to the beautiful Victoria Gardens, hip Spring Garden Road and waterfront/ Historic Properties; you're essentially the other side of the Citadel from the historic downtown. Within spitting distance is Halifax Commons with people throwing frisbees, dogs playing. Quinpool has a lot of businesses, cafés, grocery stores, restaurants, etc... "Edgy"? Certainly it's more deserted at night (quite lively during day) than say something on Barrington or Spring Garden Road and the hotel is on the "edge" of the main historic draws, but I wouldn't use the word "edgy" to describe that corner, no.

I know that some cities in the States of equivalent size can be very sketchy in parts (Richmond, New Haven, etc...); Halifax is a different animal altogether, one of the safest cities I've been to. BTW perhaps because it's the closest city of its size to Europe, I found in many ways the city gives off a European vibe. Now, take off that worry cap and start looking forward to experiencing Maritime Canada's festive spirit, friendliness and welcoming nature.

Bon voyage! DAN

gleemonex

thanks dan.

you're absolutely right. i'm sure it's going to be just fine.

i'm looking forward to experiencing all that halifax has to offer.

cheers.

bart

Hi gleemonex,

I used to live one block away from that Holiday Inn for about 6 years. It's a great area and I loved living there and I would have continued to live there, but housing prices in that area are too steep for me. You are further from the downtown core than you would be at the Waverly, but Quinpool Road has a lot of great restaurants to offer. Not a lot of nightlife as it is more of a residential area. However, it's not that far from Spring Garden road area or from the waterfront.

It is a safe area. The only thing that ever bothered me was walking back from downtown bars as the areas around the Citadel and the Commons can feel a little deserted late at night if I was by myself, but I never did have a problem. However, it's a short taxi ride that's not too expensive if you'd prefer.